Farm Animals Allowed Despite Dissent

Beachwood approved an ordinance to allow farm animals on residential lots in Beachwood at Monday's meeting after residents on both sides of the issue expressed strong views.

Two residents attended the meeting to voice opposition to the ordinance, which would allow goats and sheep on a conditional basis on residential lots larger than 1.1 acres – of which there are 12 in Beachwood.

Another resident submitted a letter to Council in opposition.

But a dozen other residents attended with stickers showing their support: "Vote For Goats," they read.

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The ordinance was proposed at a February Planning and Zoning meeting after Lindsey Mayerfeld, a Richmond Road resident who keeps chickens and wants to keep a goat for their milk and to educate her children, requested that the city consider it.

Property owners who want to keep sheep or goats must first apply to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a conditional permit, and must adhere to regulations set out by the city, including neighbor notification and a public hearing, restrictions on the size of the pen and its setback from other properties and the street.

The residents who spoke against the ordinance live near Mayerfeld, they said. 

Michael Smith said he is "vehemently opposed” to the ordinance.

“I don’t know where to begin,” he said during the public hearing. “The reason that you didn’t hear any dissent is because no one knew about it.”

He said he heard about it from Beachwood Patch. after the legislation was proposed at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, but Mayerfeld has been working to move this legislation for nearly a year, she said.

Law Director Margaret Cannon said that the residents could work with their neighborhood association to ban the farm animals even if the city approved the zoning change.

Mayerfeld spoke to council, pointing out the dozen or so supporters who had attended the meeting, including Morgan Taggart, a representative from the Ohio State University Cuyahoga County Extension Office’s Urban Agriculture Program.

Taggart has also worked with Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and other cities to write and adopt legislation that allow agriculture in urban areas.

“There’s no question in my mind that two goats on 1.1 acres of property is a very modest animal presence,” said Amalia Haas, who said she has owned livestock and cared for goats in the past. She added that she would feel more comfortable with her toddlers around goats than dogs.

Council voted 5-0 to pass the ordinance. Martin Horwitz and Mark Mintz recused themselves because of business conflicts.